Permethrin- anybody use it?

Permethrin (10% solution) is used by the military as an insect repellent, sprayed on clothes and not on the soldiers directly. It is generally used in the farming industry for keeping fleas and ticks off of cattle. It is not a problem to most mammals, including humans, but supposedly cats are affected by it. It is sold at farm and feed stores. A lot of hikers use it for their clothes and equipment, and it seems to make a lot of sense.

Anybody here use permethrin on their clothing or make it into a cream for biting insects? Just how toxic is it to cats? (Do they react to it only when it is wet, or will they fall ill from it even when the clothes are dry)

"It's always a good sign when people feel the need to mask their faces when acting under the color of law"- DeadFred on Zerohedge.com, September 2013
"There is nothing -- and then there is nothing -- and still there is nothing and then suddenly everything is made out of knives and the world becomes completely insane." cougar_w on Zerohedge.com, June 2014
"...regulations have sometimes been well meaning but often designed specifically as a barrier to competition by special interests who helped write the rules."- Carl Popper on Zerohedge.com, November 2013

Permethrin (10% solution) is used by the military as an insect repellent, sprayed on clothes and not on the soldiers directly. It is generally used in the farming industry for keeping fleas and ticks off of cattle. It is not a problem to most mammals, including humans, but supposedly cats are affected by it. It is sold at farm and feed stores. A lot of hikers use it for their clothes and equipment, and it seems to make a lot of sense.

Anybody here use permethrin on their clothing or make it into a cream for biting insects? Just how toxic is it to cats? (Do they react to it only when it is wet, or will they fall ill from it even when the clothes are dry)

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no no no no I say again no ..... remember those lil gray pills they gave to persian gulf soldiers? do not I repeat do not use any of that junk you and your family will regret it forever. USA Chemical School grad before they moved to fort lost in the woods. know now or learn the hard later....

I still have several spray cans of the Army issue they gave me maybe 8 or 9 years ago. The application guidelines as I recall are to spray it on coating and let it dry but they say do no apply directly to the skin and avoid long term direct contact with it. I have used it a lot on pants legs and boot tops to avoid chiggers and I think it helped (does not seem to help with ticks as those often fall from above, a wide brim hat helps most there.). Given the safety guidelines to not apply to skin, I have stuck with DEET for skeeters and flies.

I've used it before two of my deployments and as long as you strictly follow the directions for treatment, you shouldn't have any problems. It worked I guess...which means I never got attacked by a horde or fleas or skeeters.

Given the safety guidelines to not apply to skin, I have stuck with DEET for skeeters and flies.

AT

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Thanks, AT. I swell up and turn red when I apply DEET, I can't stand it.

I bought a small 8oz bottle at the local Tractor Supply store today. Of course, it doesn't say a thing about spraying on clothing for flea and tick prevention. I'll spray a pair of pants and a shirt (and hat), let it try, and give it a go. If I can still smell it, or if I start to get red or swollen, then I will only be out $7.99 for the bottle and not try any more.

Supposedly permethrin is undergoing trials to be allowed to be added to clothing by the manufacturer. Maybe in a few years we won't have to worry about it.

"It's always a good sign when people feel the need to mask their faces when acting under the color of law"- DeadFred on Zerohedge.com, September 2013
"There is nothing -- and then there is nothing -- and still there is nothing and then suddenly everything is made out of knives and the world becomes completely insane." cougar_w on Zerohedge.com, June 2014
"...regulations have sometimes been well meaning but often designed specifically as a barrier to competition by special interests who helped write the rules."- Carl Popper on Zerohedge.com, November 2013

To keep away mosquitoes, my mother and I just spray plain white distilled vinegar on ourselves and it works for us.

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The nice thing about the permethrin is that it is supposed to stay on the clothes through about a dozen washings. That means you shouldn't have to put anything else on as long as you keep the exposed skin to a minimum.

I'll keep the vinegar in mind, though.

"It's always a good sign when people feel the need to mask their faces when acting under the color of law"- DeadFred on Zerohedge.com, September 2013
"There is nothing -- and then there is nothing -- and still there is nothing and then suddenly everything is made out of knives and the world becomes completely insane." cougar_w on Zerohedge.com, June 2014
"...regulations have sometimes been well meaning but often designed specifically as a barrier to competition by special interests who helped write the rules."- Carl Popper on Zerohedge.com, November 2013

if you have a hornet or wasp in the house up against the screen in the kitchen, whip up dishsoap solution and soak spray the sucker. They die almost as fast as hitting them with wasp/hornet killer without all the cancer causing chemicals.

no no no no I say again no ..... remember those lil gray pills they gave to persian gulf soldiers? do not I repeat do not use any of that junk you and your family will regret it forever. USA Chemical School grad before they moved to fort lost in the woods. know now or learn the hard later....

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I used Permethrin to dip my uniforms when I did my tour in Iraq in '06-'07. You do not apply it directly to your skin. You dip or spray your clothing in a Permethrin/water mixture, then you dry them in a dryer. When you weight the consequences with what you could contract from the various bugs that live in the Middle East, I will take my chances with the Permethrin than let's say leishmaniasis disease. I have more concern with the burn pit of the FOB I was at than Permethrin.

About "dish soap" - I hope it's a non-antibacterial type without the chemical Triclosan. I use Dove dish soap and hand soap, and make my own if I can.

As for Permethrin (LINK)- It is seen as a weak carcinogen, and it is highly toxic to aquatic life (like extremely). Testing first began in 1979 with its use for spraying cotton fields. It heavily effects the nervous system. Believe it or not, research on Permethrin is "still ongoing", and if you use this stuff, do so sparingly. Never trust an FDA approved pesticide, folks. Never.

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